G. Jayachandran, J.

1. Batch of appeals arising from the judgments of the trial Court in Spl.CC Nos. 4 to 12 of 2001 on the file of District and Sessions/Special Court, Udhagamandalam, Nilgiris District bears a common root tracing to the complaint of Thiru. Narayanasamy, District Education Officer (DEO). The accused persons Thiru. Mani (A-1) and Thiru. K. Bellikalan (A-2), who are now appellants before this Court are public servants employed in Education Department as Additional Assistant Elementary Education Officer (in short "AAEEO") and Record Clerk respectively at Kothagiri Assistant Education Office. The charges against them are criminal breach of trust, misappropriation, forgery, falsification of accounts, creation of false documents and abuse of official position for illegal pecuniary advantage. As far as Spl.C.C. Nos. 5 to 7 of 2001 are concerned, Thiru. Mani (AAEEO) and Thiru. K. Bellikalan, (Record clerk) are accused.

2. The criminal law has been set into motion based on the complaint lodged by Thiru. R. Narayanasamy, then Director of Elementary Education on 1